The K-Respect App

The K-Respect platform addresses the issue of discrimination, exploitation, and violence against multicultural families and ethnic groups in South Korea. In 2021, the number of foreigners residing in Korea reached 2.13 million, including migrant workers, foreign spouses, and international students, making the issue prevalent in the country. The primary barriers to integration that these groups face are language and cultural differences, which makes it challenging for them to access relevant individuals who can listen to them and offer guidance.

Discrimination against foreigners is fueled by various factors, including language, culture, and conservative societal attitudes in South Korea. Foreigners who look different may face discrimination based on their ethnicity or nationality, while those who do not speak Korean fluently may have difficulty accessing public services or communicating with others. Furthermore, cultural differences can lead to misunderstandings and discrimination.

To address these issues, the K-Respect platform provides a safe space for multicultural families and ethnic groups to report grievances and find solutions to their problems. Through an internet application, we aim to overcome language and cultural barriers and involve local authorities, embassies, and the media in creating more inclusive communities. For instance, a foreigner who is refused housing based on their nationality due to language barriers could get help through the K-Respect App to receive help and access their right to housing.

By creating a more compassionate and inclusive society, K-Respect aims to contribute to the establishment of a more harmonious world.

K-Respect is a groundbreaking mobile app that enables ethnic minorities in Korea to report human rights violations they face in their daily lives. Whether it's discrimination, harassment, or any other form of mistreatment, K-Respect provides a safe platform for victims to share their experiences with local authorities and embassies.

For example, consider a foreign resident in Korea who is constantly subjected to racial slurs and offensive comments by their landlord. Using K-Respect, they can report this violation to the designated local government office through this application. The app's streamlined reporting process ensures that these issues are addressed swiftly and effectively, giving victims the peace of mind, they deserve. Users will be connected directly to the relevant authorities.

As the app's user base grows and evolves, K-Respect will continue to add new features to better serve its community. One such feature might be a "buddy system" that pairs new arrivals with established foreign residents to help them navigate the cultural nuances of living in Korea. Another feature could be a real-time translation service in multiple languages to facilitate communication between non-Korean speakers and local authorities.

With K-Respect, ethnic minorities in Korea have a powerful tool at their disposal to combat human rights violations and promote greater inclusion and understanding. By providing a platform for victims to share their experiences and seek assistance, K-Respect is helping to build a more just and equitable society for all.

K-Respect is an app designed to cater to the needs of ethnic minorities and multicultural families residing in Korea. The app allows users to report human rights violations to designated local government offices, free of charge. Once confirmed as relevant, the reported issues will be addressed by the respective local authorities and relevant embassies.

The target population for this app are people who are often underserved and overlooked in Korean society due to their status as foreigners or members of multicultural families. These individuals may face discrimination and violations of their basic human rights, and may not have a voice or platform to report such issues.

K-Respect aims to empower these individuals by providing a platform where they can report their grievances and be heard. The app is designed to overcome cultural and language barriers, ensuring that all users can easily and effectively report their concerns. By providing a safe space for individuals to report their issues, K-Respect is creating a more inclusive and welcoming community for all.

The app offers a number of features that cater to the specific needs of different groups of migrants. For example, foreign spouses may face couple problems and childrearing difficulties, while foreign labor may face job-specific difficulties. Children are also not immune to discrimination, as shown by a survey conducted by the Korean government in 2021. K-Respect seeks to address all these issues by providing a case-by-case approach that involves relevant authorities to find appropriate solutions.

Additionally, K-Respect serves as a last resort for individuals who may not find solutions to their problems through conventional means. Users will feel more welcome in their host country, as the app promotes their integration into society.

The app also keeps records of issues experienced by foreigners and multicultural families, which could be useful for local leaders to activate change and address systemic issues. These records will be helpful for local leaders to identify the main challenges that these groups are facing and to act to address them.

In conclusion, K-Respect is a groundbreaking app that caters to the specific needs of ethnic minorities and multicultural families residing in Korea. It serves as a one-stop service platform to report human rights violations and seek assistance in resolving them. By providing a platform for these individuals to report their grievances, K-Respect empowers them and ensures that their voices are heard. The app has the potential to create a more inclusive and welcoming community for all, and we believe that it will have a significant impact on the lives of those it serves.

Our team, led by Byoung-chul Min, is well-positioned to deliver a solution that addresses the needs of ethnic minorities facing discrimination and marginalization. Dr. Min has extensive experience in social campaigns, with a particular focus on cyberbullying, hate speech, and human rights violations. Throughout his work at the Sunfull Foundation, he has achieved tangible results, including a reduction in verbal bullying in schools where he has conducted Sunfull education programs. He has also launched successful campaigns targeting discrimination against ethnic groups and multicultural families in Korea.

As a professor and campaign leader, Byoung-chul has a deep understanding of the issues facing ethnic minorities and the importance of respect in promoting diversity and inclusion. He has successfully garnered support from lawmakers for his campaigns against cyberbullying and has a strong background in marketing and user acquisition.

Our planning team is representative of the communities we are serving, with members from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. We have a deep understanding of the challenges faced by ethnic minorities, either through personal experience or through our work in diverse environments. We are dedicated to the mission of the Sunfull Foundation and are committed to delivering a solution that addresses the needs of marginalized communities.

To ensure that our solution is meaningful and impactful, we are engaging with the communities we are serving throughout the design and implementation process. We are conducting surveys and focus groups to understand the needs and priorities of ethnic minorities and incorporating their feedback into our solution. We are also working closely with community leaders and organizations to ensure that our solution aligns with their agendas and values.

Our technical team is skilled and experienced in developing user-friendly and practical applications. We are placing a strong emphasis on user experience and ensuring that our solution is accessible to all members of the target population, including those with limited technological skills.

Overall, we believe that our team is uniquely positioned to deliver a solution that addresses the needs of ethnic minorities facing discrimination and marginalization. We are committed to working closely with the communities we are serving and incorporating their feedback and ideas into our solution. With our experience, expertise, and dedication, we are confident that we can make a meaningful and lasting impact in promoting diversity and inclusion.

The K-Respect App is a prototype solution that is currently undergoing a pre-launch campaign. We have already partnered with various organizations, including embassies, members of the National Assembly, the National Police, and media channels, to collect complaints and resolve issues faced by ethnic minorities in Korea. This approach has enabled us to lay the groundwork for the development of the application by identifying and addressing real issues faced by our target population.

One example of our progress is the support we received from the Embassy of the Philippines, the National Police, media channels, and members of the National Assembly after receiving a complaint from a member of the Filipino community. Our campaign is actively working to resolve the issue, and we have extended our partnerships to embassies representing other countries.

Through this pre-launch campaign, we have demonstrated that the idea behind K-Respect is not just a concept, but a solution with tangible results. We have already established partnerships, identified issues, and initiated the process of addressing them. Our pre-launch campaign has set the stage for the launch of the application and has demonstrated its potential to make a significant impact on the lives of ethnic minorities in Korea. Moving forward, we will continue to engage with the target population to refine and improve our solution based on their feedback. We are committed to delivering a high-quality product that meets the needs of our users and are working tirelessly to ensure that the K-Respect App makes a meaningful difference in the lives of ethnic minorities in Korea.

We are applying to Solve because we believe that their support can help us overcome the specific barriers we are facing in expanding the K-Respect campaign. Our primary challenge is securing the necessary financial resources to expand our operations globally. This includes creating educational video content and promoting our app across the world. We hope that Solve can connect us with partners who can offer financial support and help us achieve our expansion goals.

Another challenge we face is establishing connections and gaining access to the right people who can help us promote K-Respect in new countries. In South Korea, we have established relationships with key stakeholders and gained significant knowledge about the issues faced by ethnic minorities in the country. However, we recognize that launching the application in other countries will require a tailored approach that takes into account the specific context and challenges of each location. We hope that Solve can help us connect with experts and partners in other countries who can provide us with the necessary insights and resources to launch the K-Respect campaign in their respective countries.

In addition to these challenges, we also face legal, cultural, and market barriers that we hope Solve can help us overcome. For example, in some countries, there may be legal or cultural barriers that prevent us from promoting our campaign effectively. In other cases, the market may be too competitive or saturated, making it difficult for us to gain traction. We believe that Solve can help us navigate these challenges and provide us with the necessary support and resources to achieve our goals.

Ultimately, our goal is to create a world where every individual is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their background or ethnicity. We believe that Solve shares this vision and can provide us with the necessary support to make it a reality. Through their network of partners and experts, we hope to gain access to the resources and connections we need to achieve our expansion goals and create a better world for everyone.

Our solution recognizes the untapped potential of ethnic groups and multicultural families, placing them at the forefront of our approach. This is crucial considering the current demographic landscape in South Korea, where the total fertility rate is among the lowest in the world at 0.84 children per woman as of 2021. The total fertility rate in Seoul, while slightly higher at 0.88 children per woman, is still well below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman needed to maintain a stable population size in developed countries. In light of this, it is imperative to acknowledge and embrace the diversity that both ethnic groups and multicultural families bring to the table as they represent an essential part of the future of the country. Our solution recognizes this reality and works to unlock the potential of these groups for the betterment of South Korea.

Our solution works to collect and address the complaints of these groups and connect them with the relevant individuals and institutions to prevent these problems from growing into more serious issues that can cause resentment towards the host country. We propose to work on a case-by-case basis to give each user the time and care that they need.

Our approach is significantly different from existing solutions, such as the Seoul city government's hotline (120 Dasan) and application, which provide general information related to life in Seoul. Our solution focuses on addressing issues related to marginalization that foreigners and multicultural families face, providing them with information that they cannot easily access without local help. Our application will connect users with information on how to file taxes, deal with discrimination at work or school, use public facilities, or find housing. We believe that our case-by-case method of operation will enable us to address complicated problems and connect users with relevant authorities to resolve them effectively.

By providing them with access to information and support, we can help bridge the gap between these groups and the majority population. We believe that this can help reduce resentment towards host countries and create more inclusive communities that embrace diversity.

In addition to expanding our reach, we plan to continuously improve our impact in South Korea over the next five years. By the end of year two, we aim to have reduced the number of complaints related to discrimination and marginalization by 30-40%.

This will be achieved by enhancing the effectiveness of our complaint resolution process and building stronger relationships with the relevant authorities. By year five, we aim to have reduced these complaints by 60%. We believe that this can be achieved through a combination of improved technology, continued education of our users, and the development of a stronger network of partnerships and resources.

Furthermore, we hope to see a significant increase in the number of successful resolutions to complaints reported through our app. Our goal is to achieve a 90% resolution rate within the next five years. We believe that this will be accomplished through continued education and empowerment of our users, stronger partnerships with relevant authorities, and the development of more effective communication channels between parties involved.

To ensure that our organization remains sustainable and impactful in the long run, we plan to focus on building partnerships with other organizations working towards similar goals. These partnerships will allow us to pool resources and expertise, working together towards the common goal of improving the lives of marginalized communities.

Additionally, we plan to seek out funding opportunities from governments, non-profit organizations, and private entities to support our expansion efforts and ensure that we can continue to operate effectively. In conclusion, our impact goals for the next year and the next five years are centered on expanding our reach and improving our effectiveness in addressing issues of discrimination and marginalization. Through the launch of our new application, K-Respect, and the development of stronger partnerships and resources, we believe that we can make a significant impact on the lives of marginalized communities in South Korea and beyond.

Our objectives align with the tenth UN Sustainable Development Goal, which is “reducing inequalities”.  The main task of the application is collecting reports about perceived acts of discrimination. The records that we generate from the complaints will be indicators of how well we are doing in reducing inequalities.  

To measure our progress, we use two preferred indicators. First, we conduct surveys with users after the resolution of each case to gauge their level of satisfaction. Second, we measure the efficiency of our response to reports by tracking the number of reports accepted per day and the number of cases successfully resolved through the application.

The K-Respect App can have a range of outputs and outcomes in the short, medium, and long term, all of which are critical to achieving its overarching goal of reducing inequalities and promoting social justice.

Outputs:

• Providing a platform to submit complaints: K-Respect enables users to easily report human rights violations they experience in their daily lives, ensuring that their voices are heard.
• Giving access to relevant resources and organizations that can provide support: The app connects users to a range of resources and organizations that can provide them with support and assistance in resolving their issues.
• Receiving complaints: K-Respect has a streamlined reporting process that ensures that complaints are received promptly and effectively.
• Addressing complaints: K-Respect works closely with local authorities and embassies to ensure that reported issues are addressed swiftly and effectively.

Short-term outcomes:

• Increased awareness among foreigners: K-Respect raises awareness among foreigners and multicultural families about their rights and the avenues available to them for reporting discrimination and human rights violations.
• Increased visibility of discrimination issues faced by foreigners and multicultural families: The app provides a platform for individuals to share their experiences, increasing visibility of discrimination issues and promoting a more open and inclusive society.

Medium-term outcomes:

• Improved coordination with local leaders and organizations in solving discrimination issues: K-Respect strengthens coordination between local leaders and organizations in addressing discrimination issues faced by foreigners and multicultural families, leading to more effective and efficient resolution of these issues.
• Strengthened frameworks for addressing discrimination: The app promotes the development of stronger frameworks for addressing discrimination and human rights violations in society.
• Quicker resolution of issues faced by foreigners and multicultural families: K-Respect's streamlined reporting process and close collaboration with relevant authorities leads to quicker resolution of issues faced by foreigners and multicultural families.

Long-term outcomes:

• Enhanced advocacy and communication strategies to promote social justice: The app contributes to the development of enhanced advocacy and communication strategies to promote social justice and human rights.
• Improved social cohesion and harmony in society: By promoting inclusion and addressing discrimination, K-Respect helps to build a more cohesive and harmonious society, benefiting all members of the community.

K-Respect is a mobile application for foreigners and multicultural families. We will use the Swift programming language for Apple and Java for Android smartphones. Developing the application will take approximately 3 months with a budget of 54,500 USD. It will have a simple and intuitive user interface that allows users to submit their problems and track their progress. The home screen will display a menu with the options "Submit a Problem," "Track My Problem," and "Contact Us."

When users click on "Submit a Problem," they will be prompted to enter their contact information, nationality, residential area, and a brief description of their problem. They also will need to add tags at the end to facilitate filtering the problems and connecting them with the right authorities. Once the user submits the problem, we connect them with the relevant local and central government offices, and embassies to solve the issue. Users can then use the "Track My Problem" feature to monitor the progress of their petition. This feature will provide updates on the status of their petition, any actions taken by the government and embassies, and estimated resolution times.  The app will also include a "Contact Us" feature that allows users to contact user support with any questions or issues they may have.

The app will include a resource center that provides users with information and resources on multiculturalism and social inclusion. The resource center will offer articles, videos, podcasts, and other multimedia content that educates users about different cultures and promotes diversity and tolerance.

Overall, the K-Respect App will be designed to provide a simple and convenient one-stop service for individuals to submit and track their problems related to multiculturalism, while also facilitating communication between government offices and the people they serve.

At Sunfull Foundation, we take pride in our diverse and inclusive team in Seoul, Korea, where half of our members are women and our team has Korean, Indian, Moroccan, and American members. We believe that this diversity is a valuable asset, particularly given the social nature of our work.

As an organization, we are committed to providing an equitable and inclusive environment for all our staff members, and we believe in offering equal opportunities to everyone, regardless of differences. We are proud to foster a workplace culture that celebrates diversity and promotes inclusivity.

We conduct campaigns to promote character and correct behavior, with a focus on educating youth about cyberbullying and promoting the integration of ethnic minorities. We believe that it is important for our workplaces to lead by example, and we strive to create a culture of respect, tolerance, and acceptance. By promoting these values within our organization, we hope to inspire others to do the same and contribute to building a more inclusive society.

K-Respect App is an application sponsored by the Sunfull Foundation, a non-profit organization with a strong commitment to serving ethnic minorities and supporting their needs. Our business model centers around providing practical solutions to human rights violations and serving the community through a mobile application that helps users address their problems and concerns.

Our primary focus is on providing value to our beneficiaries by offering a simple and convenient one-stop service that facilitates communication between government offices and the people they serve. Users can submit their problems related to multiculturalism and track their progress through the app. We also provide a resource center with multimedia content that educates users about different cultures and promotes diversity and tolerance.

To support our mission, we rely on funding from grants, sponsorships, and donations. Our marketing is primarily done through partnerships with media, embassies, and local leaders who share our vision and understand the social nature of our work. We may also consider holding fundraising events to help cover our expenses.

As a non-profit organization, we do not generate revenue, and our primary focus is on serving the community and supporting our beneficiaries. Our business model reflects our commitment to providing practical solutions to human rights violations and our dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of ethnic minorities.

While grants and donations will be our primary source of funding, we plan to explore additional revenue streams in the future to become financially sustainable in the long run. One potential option we are considering is offering fee-based services to government agencies or NGOs that work with ethnic minority communities.

  Another revenue stream we are exploring is corporate social responsibility partnerships. We believe that many companies are increasingly interested in supporting initiatives that align with their values and contribute to positive social impact. By partnering with corporations, we can tap into their resources and expertise while providing them with a meaningful way to give back to the community. 

We have received grant money to support part of our operating costs from companies operating in Korea as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts.